Route 1 – Vestkystruten. Die Veloscouts

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      Cycling in Denmark – Route 1 – Vestkystruten

      The Veloscouts

      Many thanks to Margarethe for the translation help.

      1. Impressum

      Texte: © Copyright 2015/2016 by Die Veloscouts, all rights reserved.

      Die Veloscouts

      26506 Norden

       [email protected]

      All rights reserved.

      Date of publication: 1.5.2017

      The maps used in this book are from the OpenStreetMap project (www.openstreetmap.org) whose copyright they are underlying "© OpenStreetMap contributors" pointing this.

      The data underlying them are used under the "Open Database Licence", see: www.openstreetmap.org/copyright or www.opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl.

      The map displays (tiles) are www.openstreetmap.org/ under the "Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 licence", see www.openstreetmap.org/.

      The cards used in some parts of the OpenCycleMap.org project subject to an additional licence of "Thunder Forest":

      Maps © Thunderforest, Data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

      In this map the existing and excellent cycling routes are marked in colour, often red or blue. A small number indicates to which route it belongs.

      We are very interested in new observations and corrections in order to develop this book further. Please advise us your comments so that we can include them into the next edition. You can reach us at:

       [email protected]

      Since 2015 we also offer guided tours in the summer months in Denmark, Schleswig-Holstein and Niedersachsen. Please contact us via email if interested.

      2. Cycling in Denmark

      Currently, there are eleven national cycle routes and quite a vast number of "local" routes in Denmark. The national cycle routes have numbers from 1 to 12 - number 11 has not yet been assigned.

      2.1. Denmark’s national cycle routes

      These are the previously existing national cycle routes:

      1 Vestkystruten, ca. 560 km (North Sea Cycling Route)

      2 Hanstholm → København, ca. 420 km

      3 Hærvejsruten, 450 km

      4 Søndervig → København, ca. 310 km

      5 Østkystruten, ca. 650 km

      6 Esbjerg → København, ca. 330 km

      7 Sjællands Odde → Rødbyhavn, ca. 240 km

      8 Sydhavsruten (Rudbøl → Møn), ca. 360 km

      9 Helsingør → Gedser, ca. 290 km

      10 Bornholm round trip, ca. 110 km, see your book (will be published 2017).

      11 currently not used

      12 Limfjordsruten, ca. 610 km

      Routes with odd numbers mostly run from south to north, routes with straight numbers rather from west to east, with the exceptions in the tours 10 and 12.

      Note: According to experience the course of the cycling routes varies in the course of time.

      2.2. Follow the signs…

      Actually it is quite easy to follow the cycle routes, as they are usually well signposted. However, in practice and in detail there are some problems. This is, for example, missing or wrongly set signs, others are hidden by vegetation or other things. And there might be road works which make it impossible to follow the signs.

      In all these cases, you need a good map showing you the rough course of the route, so you can reach it again at appropriate places. Furthermore, the routing is not optimal in all cases. Then, a look on the map often offers a good (better) alternative. Typical examples can be found at Brøns and Blokhus.

      By that way: As the route can be driven from both directions and is signposted, of course, the signs into the opposite direction, to be seen only from behind, are good indicators. If a sign in the direction of travel is missing, look, if there is one nearby for the opposite direction …

      2.3. Denmark’s National Cycle Route 1

      Denmark’s National Cycle Route 1 - called "Vestkystruten" or "Vestkystenstien" - runs from the German-Danish border in Rosenkranz / Randbøl to Skagen. It is one of the longest of the national cycling routes and is considered by many people as one of the most beautiful. The information about the length of the route varies from 500 to just under 600 km. This is partly due to the over time changing routing and on the other side to some possible variations in the route.

      The route is divided into several, scenically clearly distinguishable areas:

       Randbøl to Esbjerg: the extremely flat landscape resembles to the German North Sea coast

       Esbjerg to Hanstholm: an area wooded and marked by large sand dunes

       Hanstholm to Hirtshals: a typical Scandinavian forest and dunes

       Hirtshals to Skagen: the woody Scandinavian dunes with wide beaches around Skagen is unique and really beautiful

      In the first part of the journey you are highly exposed to the prevailing west wind. In a part of the route the dike provides some wind protection, but not in many areas. Therefore, consider in unfavourable wind, if it is reasonable to switch to Route 3.

      You should not miss the second part of the tour, with one exception in Thyborøn. The occurring landscapes are too beautiful not to travel … Even if you occasionally have to reckon with violent winds.

      The same applies to the further parts. Here the wind in most cases will be supportive, but even if that is not the case, the landscapes are worth the effort. In addition, very good cycling routes are available.